Circular spring-needle knitting-machine.



R. w. snow & A. E. PAGE.

CIRCULAR SPRING NEEDLE KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-I4, m2.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. l I um AT T R. w. SCOTT&A, 5. PAGE. CIRCULAR SPRING NEEDLE KNWTING MACHINE. APPLICATION HLED MJGIH. 1912.

m gwgqg Patent-ed Jan. 4,1916.

Uwrrnp srares earner o ROBERT W. SCOTT AND ALBERT E. PAGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTGNORS TO SCOTT & WILLIAMS, INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CIRCULAR SPRING-NEEDLE KNITTING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that we, ROBERT W. SCOT and ALBERT E. PAGE, citizens of the United States,-and residents of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certainnew and useful Improvement in Circular Spring-Needle Knitting- Machines, of which the following is a speci fication.

One object of our invention is to provide a simple, durable and efficient machine of the character indicated which shall be capable of knitting fine gage fabric at highspeeds; for instance, speeds of the order of 1500 courses per minute.

A further object is'to so construct the yarn-manipulating elements cooperating with the needles to make the fabric as tov provide against undue strain upon and breakage of the yarn, as well as to provide the certain taking of the new yarn underneath the open beards of a needle about to receive yarn to form a new course of stitches.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for pressing the beards of the needles which shall place the least possible strain upon the delicate needle beard and which shall at the same time be efiicient to prevent again taking an old loop into the needle hook while the machine is running at the speeds indicated.

Further features of our invention reside in the mechanical construction by which the purposes above outlined and other purposes are attained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical central section of so much of the machine asv is necessary to illustrate our present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cam cylinder and the top of the needle .cylinder showing the presser-dial, its cam cap and the means for driving it; Fig. 3 is an under plan of the presser cap or cam; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan showing the presser dial and the drive ring for the presser cam cap; Fig. 5 is an exaggerated view in perspective of the interior face of the yarn-manipulating elements orsmkers, a presser and the-top of the needle cylinder Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 14, 1912. Serial No. 715,042.

Patented Jan. 4, 1 9 16.

illustrating the behavior of the new yarn; Fig, 6 is a development on a plane of'the matter shown in Fig. 5 to show the relation of the wave in the needles to the sinkers.

The machine we have chosen to illustrate. our invention is of the type shown in the application of Robert W. Scott, Serial No.

714,535, .filed August 12, 1912, which discloses a high speed spring needle circular machine of small diameter for knitting bands or tapes of fine gage web at high velocities. Said machine comprises a station ary needlecylinder 8 longitudinally grooved for the needles upon which is mounted for rotation a cam cylinder 9 upon the inner surface of which are a fixed advancing cam 23 and a vertically adjustable stitch cam 25. As disclosed in said application the stitch cam 25 may be delicately adjusted by means of the link 26 and eccentric stud 27 shown in Fig. 2 and be clamped in adjustment by the screw :29. 'llhe independentlymovablespring needles 50 may be of the usual form employed in independent needle machines, but it is essential that there shall be room at the heads of the hooks for the yarns to reeve through the apex of the hook. Needles of this type have long been known. As inthe machine of the application' above mentioned theneedles are relatively free in their grooves, reliance-being had up n a split ring 41, resting in a groove turned upon the needle cylinder, which ring is of an inner diameter providing a close running fit for the faces of the needle,

shanks to prevent the needles vfrom being thrown out of their grooves centrifugally, or by the behavior of the needle as a level under the forward strokeof the pressers. The needle cylinder is turned at 10, at a point midway between the-verge of the cylinder and the deep grooving for/the;

butts of the needles, to-a surface of a smaller diameter than the bottoms ofthe grooves in the remainder of the cylinder, to provide a space across which the needles extend-without touching, to prevent the flow toward the verge of the cylinder of the oil necessarily applied in the deep grooves,,at the point at 'which the cams exert a lateral forceupon the needles. This is to enable the machine line sloping downwardly and inwardly,

The beveled upper surface terminates on the inner side of the instruments 1n the noses 23 which form the upper boundaries of the notches 21. Then the instruments are in place the noses 23 project between the needles while,the bottoms of the notches 21 form an annullar groove in the inner surface of the cylinder defined by said instruments, the periphery. of the annulus defined by said groove being usually of a slightly smaller diameter than the outer faces of the needles. At the bottom of said groove is the verge or upper edge of the needle cylinder. The vertical distance between the noses 23 and the verge 11 of the needle cylinder is comparatively large. lVe' have shown it as amounting to four times the lateral spacing of the needles, to which, as it will presently appear, said vertical distance has a definite and necessary relation. While we have shown it as four times said spacing, it will be understood that the precise proportions can be greatly varied, and should be varied to suit varying conditions. The instruments 20 may be held in their slots, in their adjusted position by causing them to fit tightly in their grooves, or they may be brazed or soldered in place.

On the surface defined by the outer faces of the instruments 20 and at a height to bring its upper face slightly above the verge of the needle cylinder, we mount a presser-dial 30 having as many radial grooves31 as there are needles in the machine. This dial is conveniently held upon the outer faces of the sinkers or instruments 20 by forming it with a depending integral collar 32, which is bored out to fit the outer surfaces of the instruments 20 and is separated for a part of its circumference from the dial proper by the horizontal. slot 33 and is split at 85 to take the binding screw 34 by which it may be clamped for adjustment upon the outer surface of said instruments 520. In the radial grooves 31 of the dial 30,

.we provide independently movable pressers ;f, 42 having upwardly projecting butts and cam shaped faces 44, which may be hardened and polished. The width of the pressers 42 is so calculated as to cause them to bottom and lit snugly in the diverging space between the heads of the instruments 20 between which the said pressers take at a point slightly inward of their necessary inward stroke. The dial 30 has an inner annular groove 36 deeper than the bottom of the slots 31, to provide a free space to prevent the creeping of oil along the press ers for the same purpose as the groove 10 with respect to the needles. Running on the upper surface of the dial 80 is the presser cam 45 which is provided with an eccentric groove 46 to actuate the butts 43. The cam ring is retained in place and actuated by an internally flanged ring 47 running snugly upon the periphery of the dial 30. The ring 47 is provided with a depending pin 48 which takes into a radial slot at the upper end of an arm 49 mounted on the cam cylinder 9, which is the driven element in this machine. The groove 46, for cheapness and accuracy of construction may be a true circle, eccentricfrom the center of ligure of the cam 45 by a sufficient amount to provide the necessary movement for the pressers. Ne have so designed our machine that this necessary movement is less than the width of the instruments 20, so that the prcssers 42 are never wholly withdrawn from the space defined by two adjacent sinkers or instruments 20. We may thus provide a very loose running fit for the press ers 42 in their grooves 81. To further socure ease of running the width of the groove 46 in the cam 45 may be relatively great with respect to the width of the butt 43 running in said groove. The outward limit of motion of the pressers 42 may thus be determined by the inner diameter of the ring 47, the length of the presser being such as to cause it to contact with the ring before its working face leaves the space between the sinkers 20.

As stated above the needles 50, because the machine is an independent needle ma chine in which the stitch is drawn by the recession of the needle beneath the verge of the groove in which it works, are neces sarily provided with hooks 51 sufliciently open to enable the yarn to run freely through, to prevent breakage during the loop drawing movement of the needle. Ne

have found that this form of needle cannot be pressed without constant breakages, if the presser is permitted to run up the heard of the needle or in any other manner to act on the beard so as to cause pressure to be applied near the bend 51. lVith the devices above described the needles are gradually pressed by the downward moveof the needle cylinder, at which needle presser is resting bout at the middle of the needle heard. The needle will now point "is the point at. which'the the bend 51 under groove 45 extending from 52 to 53.' The circle defined by the groove 46 approaches a circle central with the cam cap l5'most closely' descend under the influence of the cam a suthclent distance to complete its stitch, and

to prevent break ages, for the reasons above it is desirable to release suddenly stated, the presser 42 which has at this point completed its function, so as to avoid placing any strain from the presser. This we accomplish by providing a relief space 54 in the presser cam groove the sudden release from pressure at '53 will permit the presser 42 46. The pressers being loose in their grooves the point to move out sharply at this point, the released needle beard supplying sufiicient energy for this.

purpose. The presser cam 4:5 is provided with a gate 55 having a beveled inner surface 56 through which thepressers may be entered and removed one at a. time. The ring 47 has a similar to register with gate 55, I

It will be seen from the structures above described that slight movements of adjustment are suflicientfor'the cam ring 55, the play of the pressers being very short, in practice ofthe order of of an inch. We provide this adjustment by attaching the cam 45 'to the ring 47 by screws 60 in diametrically opposite bores 61, 62 in the cam $5. I These bores are on a diameter perpen dicular to the line of maximum eccentricity of the groove 46. The bore 62 is slotted circuinferentially so that its screw 60 may be loosened and the whole structure 45 swung on the other screw 60 as a pivot, for the slight adjustment necessary. The yarn is supplied to the needles through a yarn guide 65 having a delivery opening above the groove formed by the sloping faces 22 of the sinkers 20 and the cylinder defined by the front-faces of the advanced needles 50. The lead or circumferential position of the yarn guide 65 with respect to the point in Fig. 6, which is directly above the lowest point of the stitch cam 25, may be as much as 120 of the circle of needles. We employ this long lead to secure the wrapping about the faces of the shanks of the advanced v needles of the new yarn Referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the friction of this yarn will cause to betaken down'by be pressed time the gate 57 formed in it from the guide I permit the sharp and delicate point of the needle heard to pass safely over, it to take the new yarn into the needle hook Further movement of the needles downward now lands the new yarn wellnp into the head of the needle and the noses 23 of the sin'kers now become efl ective to draw otflorsink' the yarn between the pairs of needles 'to' measure out enough'of it to form a part of the ensuing stitch. It will be seen that the function of the sloped faces 22' and'noses 23. is

two-fold, to support the yarn to take it under the needle beard, and to draw 'ofi the yarn to aid in the formation of astitch in addition to the effect of the underside of the noses 23 and the inner walls of notch 21 respectively as web-holders and aids to knocking over. Bearing. in mind that the stitch length is determined by the degree of recession of the needles beneath the verge ll of the-needle cylindenit will be seen that, as shown in Fig. 5, theneedle at the position an" must-necessarily draw some of its yarn from the run of yarn between the next pair of needles following it, which is the pair of needles to the right of w, Figs; 5 and 6. lVe find it undesirable to make the noses 23 of the pressers longenough to draw off sufiicient yarn for the entire stitch, preferring to make said noses instead project inwardly sufiiciently to provide enough yarn for a stitch of the maximumtightness to be knit by the machine and relying upon the adjustment of the cam 25 for an additional increment of length for the stitch.- Other-- wise the fact that the structures 20 are fixed structures would limit the machine to the production of fabrics with one length of stitch only, there being a definite relation between the siZe and condition of the yarn and the size of the loop to be knit from it.

Ve have found in practice that the proper position of the noses 23 with respect to the verge 11 is of the utmost lmportance in the operation of independent needle machines with fixed instruments to guide and manipulate the yarn. The condition of best operation is when the nose 2-3 shall have finished its sinking function at a needle sofar in advance of the needle at which the new loop is being drawn through the old one as to release the yarn drawn o'tf andnow in the hooks of the intervening need es before the penetrating movement of the new loop with respect to the old ,loo-p takes places. This will be understoodbyreference to Fig. 5,

. point between the inner wherein the loop a is shown upon the pointleast two preceding loops crimped or crinkled between the surfaces 22 and the needle hooks, as a necessary result of the comparatively gradual slope of the needle cam, the position of theseries of needle hooks corresponding to said slope, The yarn is restrained Where it is crimped between the needles and the surface 22 from responding to any sudden draft upon it. But by pro viding a sufficient distancev between the points 23 and the verge 11, which we have for purposes of illustration onlyv shown as amounting to four times the space between adjacent needles, the loops in the relative position of those at .2 will be released in succession as shown at z, 2 2 leaving at least three loops free to supply yarn for the sudden penetrating movement of the needle at the position 00. If necessary the needle :0 can useup a great part of this yarn in forming its stitch without trapping the yarn by drawing it around any sharp bends,

as would be the case if the stitch were formed Y while the-yarn between pairs of needles adiacent to the stitch drawing needle were still upon the noses 23. In other words the yarn from the point 2 to the point m has been drawn off between the needles and is loose and crinkled or bent so that it is possible to make it take a comparatively straight path between these points without increase of tension. The bottoms of the notches 22 being in practice on a line with a face of the needle shank and the center line thereof, said yarn can assume a nearly straight path without encountering any obstacle to increase the tension upon it.

lVe have found in practice that the fixed sinkers or yarn positionersQO, when provided in accordance with our invention operate as well in connection with spring beard needles as the movable instruments heretofore thought to be essential to the performance of the sinking function, and that we are thereby enabled to produce spring needle fabric at the great speeds. rendered possible by limiting the movable yarn-manipulating instruments to one set only, that is to say to the needles themselves.

What we claim is:

1. In a knitting machine, a needle-carrier and independently movable spring-beard needles therein, means to 'press the needle beards, a cam carrier, and needle cams there on, in combination with yarn positioning and sinking instruments fixed with respect to the needle carrier standing between. the needles and having downwardly and inwardly sloping faces and inwardly pointed noses projecting between the needles and separated from the verge of the needle carrier by a space greater than that between adjoining needles, and means to supply ya rn against the shanks of projected needles.

2. In a knitting machine having indeyarn under the beards and against the shanks of the needles.

3. In a knitting machine having independently movable spring-beard needles, needle and cam carriersand knitting cams,

a yarnguide, and means to press the needlebeards, fixed instruments mounted on the needle carrier, said instruments having notches terminating in 'noses standing be tween the needles, and terminal faces sloping toward said noses for sinking and guiding the yarn against the shanks and under the beards of the needles, the said noses being separated from the verge of the needle carrier by a between said instruments.

4:. In a circular knitting machine having independently movable spring-beard needles, needle and cam cylinders and knittingcams, a yarn-guide, and means to press the needle-beards, fixed instruments mounted on the needle carrier, said instruments having internal notches wider than the space between adjacent instruments terminating in noses standing between the needles, and terminal faces sloping inwardly toward said noses for sinking and guiding the yarn against the shanks and under the beards of the needles.

5. In a knitting machine, in combination, a needle-carrier and needles, means to move the needles upand down, a yarn-guide, means to support'the yarn against the shanks of the needles, independent beard-pressers, and means to advance said pressers at an angle to the direction of motion of the 4 their working faces.

distance greate than the space the needle its lie

6. In a knitting machine, in combination, '12"?- a needlecarrier andindependeiitly movable needles, a cam-carrier and a stitch-cam, a yarn guide, means to support the yarn against the shanks of the needles, independently movable beard-pressers, and means to advance said pressers at an angle to the directionof motion of the needles, during the passage of the stitch-cam, id means to reiae'aoaa bination, a' needle cylinder and independ ently movable needles, a cam cylinder and a stitch cam, a yarn guide, and means to support the yarn against the shanks of the needles, independent radial movable beardpressers, and a cam to independently advance said pressers inwardly during the passage of the stitch cam, said cam having a recess to permit the pressers to move outwardly .before the stitch cam completes its function.

8. In a knitting machine, in combination independently movable spring beard needles, a carrier therefor, and fixed instruments for guiding and sinking the yarn at the verge of said carrier, needle cams, a presser dial, independently movable pressers in grooves in said dial, and a presser cam, the relation of the pressers and the remaining instruments being such as to cause the working faces of the pressers to advance and retract with respect to the needles within the space defined by two adjacent guiding and sinking instruments.

9. In a circular spring beard knitting machine, in combination with a needle cylinder and independently movable spring beard needles therein, a cam carrier and knitting cam, a dial, independently movable pressers therein and means for actuating said pressers comprising a cam cap, a circular eccentric groove in said cam cap andnieans for causing the relative rotation of the cam cap and the sinker dial cap. 7

10. In a circular spring beard knitting machine, in combination with a needle cylinder and independently movable spring beard needles therein, a cam carrier and knitting'cam, a dial, independently movable pressers' therein, and means foractuating' said pressers comprising a cam cap, having a circular eccentric groove therein, said cam cap having a recess in the outer periphery of said groove to provide a relief space for the pressers. p

11. In a circular knitting machine, a needle carrier, a dial relatively fixed with respect to said needle carrier, needles in said carrier, radial grooves in said dial, auxiliary instruments cooperating with the needles in said grooves, a cam cap, a drive ring having a bearing on the periphery of said dial,

and means to secure the cam capto the drive ring comprising a pivot-and a diametrically opposite clamp screw in a slot in one of said parts.

12. In a presser device for independently movable spring beard needlecircular knitting machines, a needle carrier, needles, a series of instruments at the verge of the carrier, definmg radlal grooves in which the driven by said drive rin'g,'said cam having, therein a substantially circular eccentric groove for moving the inner end of the pressers in a radial path wholly within the grooves at the verge of the'needle cylinder.

13. A circular knitting machine having a needle carrier and needles therein, yarn manipulating instruments fixed at the verge of said carrier, a dial'for auxiliary instruments surrounding the outer faces of said fixed instruments, said dial having a depending flange split to permit expanding and contracting a'central opening in said dial, and means to clamp said flange on the faces of said fixed instruments.

14. In a circular knitting machine, a needle carrier and needles therein, yarn-manipulating instruments fixed at the verge of said carrier, a dial fast upon the outer faces of said instruments, and auxiliary instruments independently movable in radial grooves upon the upper face of said dial, operating butts upon said instruments projecting above the face of the dial, a cam for operating said butts having therein a circular eccentric groove materially wider than said butts, and means for adjusting said cams comprising a pivot at one end of the diameter of the cam perpendicular to the greatest eccentricity of the groove, and clamping means at the other end of said diameter.

15; In a knitting machine, a needle carneedles therein, means to operate said needles, a yarn-guide, instruments fixed upon the verge of the needle carrier and extending freely thereabove and between each pair of needles, said instruments havingvnoses pointing toward the backs of the needles, notches. between said noses and the verge of the needle cylinder, and terminal faces sl0ping from said noses in the direction of the head of the needles and the faces thereof, the distance separating said noses from the verge of the needle cylinder being suflicient to permit the free passage of the yarn into said notch at one needle before the next needle but one preceding it shall have passed beneath the verge of the needle cylinder.

16. In an independent needle knitting machine, a needle carrier and needles therein, a yarn guide, a camcarrier and cams, including a stitch cam having an active face of a certain slope, whereby the needles under the influence of the cam are withdrawn into their carrier upon an angle measured by said slope, in combination with instruments at the verge of the needle carrier for positioning the yarn in the hooks of the needles, said instruments being provided memee with noses intersecting the series of needles In testimony whereof We have signed our 1n said carrier, the points of said noses names 1n the presence of the subscribingv 1.0 standing m a plane lntersectlng the hue of wltnesses.

movementof the needles determined by said ROBERT W. SCOTT. slope of the cam at a point in advance of the ALBERT E. PAGE. lowermost needle and separated therefrom Witnesses:

by a distance measured by an intervening MARY F. GRIFFIN,

plurality of said needles. ROBERT C. CiiULD.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, I). G. 

